Lasts



June 4, 1957 R. E. WOODARD 2,794,194

LASTS Filed July 1, 1955 INVEN'TOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent LASTS Roger E. Woodard, Milford, Mass.Application July 1, 1955, Serial No. 521,140 3 Claims. (Cl. 12136) Thisinvention relates to lasts for use in the manufacture of boots andshoes, and has as its main object the provision of a novel and improvedshoe last so constructed that one heel part is interchangeable with anynumber of toe parts.

The provision of sufficient lasts to keep pace with the rapidly changingstyles in footwear requires an investment of a most substantial sum ofmoney by each individual shoe manufacturer. The shoe maker must provideas many lasts for each size, width, and style of shoe manufactured aswill take care ofthe daily output, having regard to the length of timeeach last must remain in each shoe made thereon. made almost entirely inthe toe parts of the lasts, repeated efforts have been made to deviselast constructions in which the toe parts are removable andinterchangeable, so that the same heel part may be used with a number offoreparts of different styles and sizes. The constructions ofieredhitherto have however left considerable room for improvement. I

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a take-down lastthat can be easily disassembled and reassembled by the hands alone Whilestill having the necessary strength and rigidity during the variousshoemaking processes. Another object is to provide a last of this typewhich permits of easy folding of the last for removal from the shoe, butwhich will avoid loose, broken or stretching hinges. Other objects areto allow the heel section to be made of some relatively indestructiblematerial other than wood, as well as out of wood, and to provide alocking device for holding the last extended which is easily insertedand Withdrawn, and is of a standard size and pattern for all sizes andwidths of lasts. Additionally, the invention aims to provide a methodand means of last manufacture which will ensure the standardization ofthe shape and locations of the parts involved in the making and lockingof the joint between the toe and heel parts, and to make possible theturning of the toe sections of the lasts from half-length models asagainst the full-length models now customarily employed. The hingesurfaces and the adjacent saw cuts of the toe parts will be used asbases for dimensioning and grading the different sizes and widths of theresulting lasts.

Other objects of the invention, and the manner of their attainment, areas made plain hereinafter.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawing in which,

Fig. 1 is a vertical axial section of a last embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the two parts of the last inseparatedcondition.

Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views of the metal sheath for the knuckleof the joint and of the bushing fixed in the toe part for the receptionof such knuckle, respectively.

Figs. 5 and 6 are side views of the lock for holding the last inextended relation, shown in unlocked and inlocked relation,respectively.

Since the changes in style are necessary. This Fig. 7 is a right-handelevation of the lock shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 shows the manner of holding the blank which is to form the toeportion of the last, during the turning operation.

The heel portion 1 is molded from plastic or pressed from metal orturned from wood. Characteristically it is formed with a hinge elementon its forward end in the shape of an integral knuckle 3 of cylindricalform disposed transversely aeross it, encased in a sleeve 5 also oftruly cylindrical contour, normally held thereon by its own'contractiveeffort but pinned to keep it in place if sleeve is of standard diameter,length, and other dimensions for all sizes and widths of toe parts. Oneor more reenforcing pins 7 extend diametrically through the knuckle 3and are fixed tightly therein and in the material of the heel part '1,to strengthen the narrow neck joining the knuckle to the heel part. Theusual socket 9'is provided for supporting the last on the jack spindleand when the heel part is made of wood a metal heel plate 11 is providedto clinch the heel nails, as indicated in Fig. 1; when made of metal orplastic, an insert 13 of wood or other nailable material is provided inthe bottom of the heel to receive tacks holding the insole, as shown inFig. 2.

The toe part 15, which is to be made in multiple throughout a range ofdifferent lengths, widths, and styles for interchangeable use with oneand the same heel part, is normally made of wood but may be made ofplastic or metal if so desired. Formed entirely separately from the heelpart, it is made from a blank which is first bored transversely at 19,then sawed oif as indicated at .17, Fig. 2, in a plane parallel to andintersecting the bore 19. The toe part is then turned down to thedesired shape and size in a duplicating lathe, being held and rotatedtherein by a dog 21, Fig. 8, having a transverse cylindrical extension23 duplicating the part 3 and its sleeve 5 and fitting accurately withinthe bore 19, in cooperation with a dead center 25. Relative lateralmovement is barred by a key 22 fixed on a cylinder 24 rotatable inextension 23 and turned by a screwdriver slot in its end, so that thekey enters a slot 45 in thepart 15; The bore 19 thus forms a referencesurface from which the saw cuts are located and the proportions of thedifferent sizes of toe. parts are laid out, insuring theirinterchangeability on a common heel part.

Next, the block is sawed along a radial plane through the axis of bore19 to leave the surface 27. The bore 19 is lined with a part-cylindricalmetal bushing 29 whose outside diameter accurately fits the recesscomprising what is left of bore 19, being fixed therein by a screw 31.The inside of this bushing fits accurately with a sliding fit upon theoutside of sleeve 5 covering the knuckle 3. The open gap extending fromend to end of bushing 29 is less than half the circumference of thesleeve 5, so that the hinge members comprising the pivot or pintleformed by the knuckle 3 and the socket 19 form a mortise and tenonjoin-t which cannot be separated except by relative transverse movementof the toe and heel parts along the axis of the knuckle, and the toe andheel parts remain securely connected whether extended during the makingof the slfioe thereon or folded for removal from the finished s oe.

Means is provided for locking the heel and toe parts of the last rigidlyin the extended position of Fig. 1 by immobilizing the hinge during themaking of the shoe. Such means comprises the lock shown in Figs. 5 to 7.It has a wedge-shaped metal body 33, conveniently, but not necessarily,of 3-ply sheet metal construction, slotted as indicated at 35, with alatch 37 pivoted at 39 in the slot. This lock is of mainly triangularoutline to fit the V-shaped crotch between the toe and heel partsdefined by the surface 27 of the toe part and the obliquely cut opposingsurface 41 of the heel parts. A lobe 43 on the bottom end of the lock isreceived, within a slot'45, cut at mid-width of the toe part andregistering with aslot 47 provided at mid-length of the. bushing 29 anda similar slot 48 through sleeve and the underlying material of knuckle5, all four slots matching in width the thickness of the lobe 43. Thesharp end 49 of latch 37 is received in a saw cut 51 in the heel part 1,the upper surface of such latch engaging with the top of the cut 51 andacting as a lever to force the wedge into the crotch between the toe andheel parts as the latch is turned to lie crosswise of the crotch. Thisbrings and holds the opposing surfaces of the heel and toe parts belowtheknuckle joint in mutual engagement. Cut 51 is narrower than thethickness of wedge 33., being just wide enough to admit the latch; whilecuts 45, 47 and 48 admit the full thickness of the wedge.

To hold the latch in locked relation, since in use the last is inverted,sole upward, a spring catch 53 is fixed on the side of wedge 33, as byspot welding or riveting, with its upper end offset to contactifrictionally the side of latch 37 and hold it in closed relation bymeans of a projection struck up from the offset upper portion whichenters a hole 55 in the end of latch 37.

Thus the lock 33 bridges and is wedged in the crotch between the heeland toe port-ion, prevents relative rotation about the axis of theknuckle 3, and also prevents relative axial movement of the heel and toeparts along such axis, thus holding the toe and heel parts in alignment.However, the last is instantly unlocked for removal from a completedshoe by tilting the latch 37 as indicated in Fig. 5, as by a hookinserted in hole 55. The look is then withdrawn or drops out freely frombetween the heel and toe portion, leaving the latter free to rotateabout knuckle 3 into contracted relation for removal from the shoe.

Substitution of one toe part for another is then instantly and easilyeffected without the use of tools, by sliding the toe part axially alongand off from the knuckle 3 and sliding the new toe part on in its place.

When it is desired to make the toe parts out of molded or shapedmaterial like the heel part-s, instead of out of wood, inserts ofnailable material 57 will be provided for the tacks to hold the insolein place.

When the improved lasts are molded from plastic matenal, a verysubstantial economy results in the case of I and thus to hold the toethe manufacture of womens shoes through the avoidance of broken lastscommonly experienced through excessive wear and strain on the wood usedheretofore, as well as through being able to use interchangeable toeparts of different sizes and styles with the single heel par-ts.

While I have illustrated and described a certain form in which myinvention may be embodied, I am aware that many modifications may bemade therein by any person skilled in the art, without departing fromthe scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I donot wish to be limited to the particular form shown, or to the detailsof construction thereof, but

What I do claim is:

1. A last comprising in combination a toe part having a socket, a heelpar-t having a knuckle coaxially disposed in such socket, and a Wedgeentered between the toe and heel parts so as to prevent folding of thelast about. the knuckle, and having a portion entering the socket andknuckle and holding the toe and heel parts in alignment.

2, A last comprising in combination a toe part having a socket and aheel part having a knuckle fitting within such socket and therewithforming a hinge, a wedge entered between the toe and heel partsimmobilizing the hinge, and means rele-asably locking the wedge in suchrelation and forcing the wedge. into the socket and the knuckle to barrelative axial movement thereof.

3. A last comprising in combination a toe part having a socket in itsrearward surface, a bushing fixed in such socket having apart-cylindrical interior, a heel part having an extension on itsforward end, a cylindrical sleeve on such extension fitting the interiorof the bushing and forming therewith a, hinge joining the two parts, aWedge entered between the toe and heel parts lock-ing them in extendedrelation, and also entering registering slots in the bushing, thesleeve, and the extension on the heel part to prevent relative axialmovement of these elements part aligned with the heel part, and lockingmeans holding the wedge in place.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS395,668 Smith Jan. 1, 1889 639,990 .Tapiot Dec. 26, 1899 FOREIGN PATENTS389,327 Great Britain ,--,-V-. Mar. 16, 1933

